Why use a participatory planning process? What was the matter with the old way of doing things?

• Participatory processes, like Little River Big Future, have a number of important advantages over conventional planning processes:
  
• No one knows the watershed better than the people who live and work in it every day. By getting these people involved in the planning process, we are much more likely to find solutions that work.
  
• Since residents take part in every phase of the planning process, they are much more likely to support the plan when it is finished.
  
• Government agencies and private foundations like to fund proposals that have public support. Ideas coming from participatory plans are more likely to get funding.
  
• Participatory plans tend to stress education and cooperation over regulation.
  
• For these reasons and others, participatory plans are more likely to be successful. In fact, studies show that participatory plans are more than twice as likely to be implemented than traditional plans.

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What is Little River Big Future?

Little River Big Future is an experimental planning process designed and conducted by the Community Partnership Center of the University of Tennessee. The goal of this project is to get residents of Blount County more involved in making decisions that will affect the future of the Little River Watershed.

How much of my time will this take?

Not much, just a few evenings over the next several months to learn about and discuss local issues.

What will be the result of this process?

This process will result in the creation of a citizen- generated plan with specific recommendations for improving and protecting the Little River Watershed.

Sounds great. How can I get involved?

Getting involved is easy. Just sign up to become part of Little River Big Future. Also feel free to invite your friends and neighbors to sign up or attend a forum or workshop. It is a free, fun, and easy way to help take care of your environment and help insure the future of your community.